Vehicle-axle.



Uivirnn Srnrns PATnr OFFICE.

I'IOIVARD S. I'IEMENl/VAY, OF IVIONTVILLE, OHIO.

VEHlCLEi-XLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,147, dated December 31, 1901.

Application led September 7, 1901l Serial No. 74,693. (No model.)

To cti/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHOWARD S. HEMENWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montville, in the county of Geauga and State of Ohio, have invented Improvements in Vehicle-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle-axles, and has particular reference to the spindles and their bearings forming a part thereof.

It has for its object the production of a spindle provided at its opposite ends with surrounding collars or ferrules adapted to sustain and take up the endwise wear of an axle-box mounted thereon.

As a further object it contemplates the manufacture and employment of ferrules or sleeves which can be cheaply and readily applied to axles already in use, as well as new, and which can be immediately removed and replaced inA the event of wear or injury thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, and whereon corresponding letters indicate the same parts in the several views, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention, showing a hub-box in position upon its supporting-spindle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing hub-box, spindle, and detachable ferrules or bearings. Figs. 3 and 4 Iare views in side elevation, respectively, of the inner and outer ferrules aforesaid.

Reference being had to the drawings andletters thereon, A indicates a vehicle-axle, which terminates in a spindle B and has formed thereon an enlargement C at the point where said axle and spindle merge one into the other. This enlargement C, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 2, is reduced in diameter and screw-threaded, as at ct, thus forming an abutment b, which surrounds and extends to the surface of spindle B.

Upon the threads cis detachably mounted in screw-threaded relation an inner ferrule of novel construction, which constitutes an important feature of the present invention. This ferrule is substantially bell-shaped, having an internallyscrewthreaded annular body D, the walls whereof converge, as at E, to the surface of spindle B, which latter is therefore snugly surrounded by the outwardly-projecting tapering and annular bearing-flange F. It will be observed that said detachable ferrule thus forms a double bearing for the inner end of an ordinary hub-box Gr, its converging walls E at the same time serving to receive all inward thrusts of the axle-box, which are transmitted through an interposed washer c, all as will hereinafter more fully appear. The opposite or outer eX- tremity of spindle B is threaded, as at d, and furnished with the usual cap-nut l-I and fieXible washer c; but the surface of said spindle within the confines of boxing G is further configured byanadditional screw-thread f, upon which is mounted a correspondingly-threaded outer sleeve I of cylindrical form for the purpose of sustaining the wear of the hub-box at that point, which would otherwise bear directly upon the spindle. XVhen worn,the said sleeve I may readily be removed and replaced.

In practice the parts of my invention are arranged and assembled substantially as follows: The spindle B, if a new one, is originally formed with the enlargement O, reduced and threaded, as stated, and onto this is Vscrewed the ferrule-body D, with bearingflangeFsnuglyinclosingspindleB. Awasher c is thereupon slipped over said fiange F until arrested by the adjacent walls E. Outer sleeve I is next secured to the extremity of of spindle B by means of the screw-threads j', whereupon the hub-box (with its correlative wheel members) is slipped into place, the inner end thereof bearing both upon the tapering bearing-flange F and the periphery of the ferrule-body D, its opposite end finding a bearing` upon the outer sleeve I. Capnut II, with its washer e, then being drawn up in the usual manner, the axle and depending parts are ready for service. Obviouslyv the end thrust of box G is resisted by the walls E, which fact protects the axle or customary shoulder thereon from injury, while at the same time all rotary wear and tear is sustained by the ferrule and sleeve aforesaid, which when badly worn may easily be removed without the laborious and expensive process of welding to the axle a new spindle. It will further be observed that the detachable wearing parts or bearings of my inven- IOO tion may easily be applied to spindles `which have become Worn and which would otherwise be regarded as Worthless. In such application and adaptation of the invention it is necessary only to turn ont of the Worn spindle the swell or tapering enlargement usually appearing at its inner end, to tap it with suitable threads af, and to finally supply thereto the detachable parts aforesaid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vehicle-axle the combination with a spindle and a suitable axle-box, of an interposed detachable ferrule located Within the confines of the axle-box and threaded upon the axle beyond the bearing-point of said box, substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle-axle the combination with a spindle and a suitable axlebox, of an interposed detachable ferrule having an annular tapering body located Within the confines of the axle-box and threaded upon the axle beyond the bearing-point of said box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HOWARD S. HEMENWAY.

Witnesses:

C. S. MoREHoUsE, F. B. MoREHoUsE. 

